Navigation apparatus

Abstract

A navigation apparatus including a joystick which is adapted for three motions of leaning in a plurality of predetermined directions, rotating about an axial line and being pressed in a direction along the axial line. As a result of these three motions, an operation of this joystick can be provided with a lot of navigation functions, and, as compared with the prior art, the number of switches of a remote controller and an operation panel section can be decreased.

1. A navigation apparatus mounted in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
 a display; 
 a joystick adapted to being leaned in a plurality of predetermined directions, rotated about a longitudinal axial line of said joystick, and depressed in a direction along the axial line; and 
 control means for changinga controller configured to change a display state of said display according to a motion of said joystick. 
 
     
     
       2. The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a map is displayed on said display, and said control means controller rotates the map when said joystick is rotated about the axial line. 
     
     
       3. The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a map is displayed on said display, and said control means controller changes a scale of the map when said joystick is rotated about the axial line while being depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
     
     
       4. The navigation apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said control means controller increases a displayed scale of the map when said joystick is rotated to one side about the axial line while being depressed in the direction of the axial line, and decreases a displayed scale of the map when said joystick is rotated to the other side about the axial line while being depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
     
     
       5. The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a map is displayed on said display; and
 said control means controller scrolls the map when said joystick is leaned, and changes a scrolling speed of the map when said joystick is pressed in the direction of the axial line while being leaned. 
 
     
     
       6. The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising designating means for selecting and designating a selecting and designating unit configured to select and designate a navigation function from among a plurality of predetermined navigation functions, wherein:
 items corresponding to the navigation functions and said designating means selecting and designating unit are displayed on said display; and 
 said control means controller shifts said designating means selecting and designating unit when said joystick is leaned, and changes a shifting speed of said designating means selecting and designating unit when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line while being leaned. 
 
     
     
       7. The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising data inputting means for inputting an input unit configured to input numerical data, wherein:
 a cursor for designating and inputting the numerical data is displayed on said display; and 
 said control means controller increments and decrements a number designated by the cursor when said joystick is rotated about the axial line, shifts a digit designated by the cursor when said joystick is leaned, and fixes inputted numerical data when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
 
     
     
       8. The navigation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the numerical data is a telephone number. 
     
     
       9. The navigation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the numerical data is a post code. 
     
     
       10. The navigation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the numerical data is latitude and longitude information. 
     
     
       11. The navigation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the numerical data is position information, which is encoded position data of a specific location. 
     
     
       12. The navigation apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said control means controller increments a number designated by the cursor when said joystick is rotated to one side about the axial line, and decrements a number designated by the cursor when said joystick is rotated to the other side about the axial line. 
     
     
       13. The navigation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said control means controller comprises an operation detector for detecting each motion of said joystick. 
     
     
       14. The navigation apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said operation detector comprises a rotation detector for detecting when said joystick is rotated about the axial line, a lean detector for detecting when said joystick is leaned, and a press detector for detecting when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
     
     
       15. The navigation apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said rotation detector comprises a rotary encoder including a plurality of photocouplers for detecting a rotation angle of said joystick. 
     
     
       16. The navigation apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said lean detector comprises a plurality of switches for detecting when said joystick is leaned in one of the plurality of predetermined directions. 
     
     
       17. The navigation apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said press detector comprises a spring switch for detecting when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
     
     
       18. A navigation apparatus mounted in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
 a display unit; 
 a joystick adapted to being leaned in a plurality of predetermined directions, rotated about a longitudinal axial line of said joystick, and depressed in a direction along the axial line; and 
 a control unit operable to change a display state of said display unit according to a motion of said joystick. 
 
     
     
       19. The navigation apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a map is displayed on said display unit, and said control unit is operable to rotate the map when said joystick is rotated about the axial line. 
     
     
       20. The navigation apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a map is displayed on said display unit, and said control unit is operable to change a scale of the map when said joystick is rotated about the axial line while being depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
     
     
       21. The navigation apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said control unit is operable to increase a displayed scale of the map when said joystick is rotated to one side about the axial line while being depressed in the direction of the axial line, and to decrease a displayed scale of the map when said joystick is rotated to the other side about the axial line while being depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
     
     
       22. The navigation apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a map is displayed on said display unit, and
 said control unit is operable to scroll the map when said joystick is leaned, and to change a scrolling speed of the map when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line while being leaned. 
 
     
     
       23. The navigation apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a designator operable to select and designate a navigation function from among a plurality of predetermined navigation functions, wherein:
 items corresponding to the navigation functions and said designator are displayed on said display unit; and 
 said control unit is operable to shift said designator when sad joystick is leaned, and to change a shifting speed of said designator when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line while being leaned. 
 
     
     
       24. The navigation apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a data inputting device operable to input numerical data, wherein:
 a cursor is displayed on said display unit; and 
 said control unit is operable to increment and decrement a number designated by the cursor when said joystick is rotated about the axial line, to shift a digit designated by the cursor when said joystick is leaned, and to fix inputted numerical data when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
 
     
     
       25. The navigation apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the numerical data is a telephone number. 
     
     
       26. The navigation apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the numerical data is a post code. 
     
     
       27. The navigation apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the numerical data is latitude and longitude information. 
     
     
       28. The navigation apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the numerical data is position information, which is encoded position data of a specific location. 
     
     
       29. The navigation apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said control unit is operable to increment a number designated by the cursor when said joystick is rotated to one side about the axial line, and to decrement a number designated by the cursor when said joystick is rotated to the other side about the axial line. 
     
     
       30. The navigation apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said control means controller comprises an operation detector for detecting each motion of said joystick. 
     
     
       31. The navigation apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said operation detector comprises a rotation detector for detecting when said joystick is rotated about the axial line, a lean detector for detecting when said joystick is leaned, and a press detector for detecting when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
     
     
       32. The navigation apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said rotation detector comprises a rotary encoder including a plurality of photocouplers for detecting a rotation angle of said joystick. 
     
     
       33. The navigation apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said lean detector comprises a plurality of switches for detecting whether said joystick is leaned in one of the plurality of predetermined directions. 
     
     
       34. The navigation apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said press detector comprises a spring switch for detecting when said joystick is depressed in the direction of the axial line. 
     
     
       35. A map display apparatus comprising:
 a display unit operable to display a map thereon; and   an input unit operable to carry out a first input for instruction of scrolling a display of the map displayed on said display unit, and a second input for instruction of an increase or decrease of a scale of the map in accordance with a rotation direction of a rotation operation of said input unit while said input unit is being depressed, said input unit being adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axial line of said input unit.    
     
     
       36. The map display apparatus of claim 35, wherein the scale of the map is increased in response to a clockwise rotation operation of said input unit and is decreased in response to a counterclockwise rotation operation of said input unit.  
     
     
       37. The map display apparatus of claim 35, wherein a size of the scale of the map is determined in accordance with a rotation amount of the rotation operation of said input unit.  
     
     
       38. The map display apparatus of claim 35, wherein while the first input is being carried out, scrolling in a predetermined direction is continued.  
     
     
       39. A map display apparatus comprising:
 a display unit operable to display a map thereon;   an input unit operable to carry out an instruction of scrolling a display of the map displayed on said display unit, said input unit being adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axial line of said input unit;   a rotation detection part operable to detect a rotation operation of said input unit while said input unit is being depressed; and   a control unit operable to, when said rotation detection part detects the rotation operation of said input unit, increase or decrease a scale of the map in accordance with a rotation direction of the rotation operation of said input unit.    
     
     
       40. The map display apparatus of claim 39, wherein the scale of the map is increased in response to a clockwise rotation operation of said input unit and is decreased in response to a counterclockwise rotation operation of said input unit.  
     
     
       41. The map display apparatus of claim 39, wherein a size of the scale of the map is determined in accordance with a rotation amount of the rotation operation of said input unit.  
     
     
       42. A map display apparatus comprising:
 a display unit operable to display a map thereon;   an input unit operable to carry out an instruction of scrolling a display of the map displayed on said display unit, said input unit being adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axial line of said input unit;   a rotation detection part operable to detect a rotation operation of said input unit while said input unit is being depressed, said rotation detection part being operable to detect a rotation in accordance with a rotation change amount without fixing a starting position of the rotation; and   a control unit operable to, when said rotation detection part detects the rotation operation of said input unit in accordance with the rotation change amount, increase or decrease a scale of the map in accordance with a rotation direction of the rotation operation of said input unit.